Emotions soar, thoughts churn, people press buttons, deadlines scream, and social media scrolls endlessly. It’s like being in a cyclone; most of us are tossed around, clutching to whatever piece of wood floats by. Ashtavakra’s wisdom? Stop clutching. Instead, become a witness. The serene presence that observes everything without being carried away.
Janaka’s innocent Question
King Janaka, sitting in his palace, asked the young sage: “Master, I understand freedom, I understand stillness, but how do I live in the chaos of life without being dragged into it? How do I act without being consumed?” Ashtavakra looked at him and said: “Janaka, the mind is a river. Thoughts and emotions are the water rushing by. You cannot stop the river. But you can become the bank — unmoving, observing, holding space for the flow.” Janaka frowned. “But if I don’t react, will I not become passive?” “No,” said Ashtavakra. “You act fully, but you do not suffer. You participate in life, but the river does not pull you under.”That’s the essence of the witness.
What Being a Witness Actually Means
Most people misinterpret the witness with apathy. We believe: “If I don’t react, I don’t care.” Wrong. Big mistake. The witness cares more than anyone else. However, the difference is subtle: The non-witness reacts with fear or desire. The witness acts with clarity and presence. The witness perceives anger but does not become angry. Sees grief, but does not become overwhelmed by it. Sees joy, but does not cling.It’s like watching a movie. You’re fully engaged — laughing, crying, holding your breath — but you know it’s a story. You don’t confuse the plot for your life.
Modern Life and the Hijacked Mind
This teaching is much more relevant in 2025. Your thoughts are continually hijacked by notifications, comparisons, news cycles, and Instagram stories. Every ping tugs on your mental leash. Every like or remark feels like acceptance or rejection. Most of us don’t live life; we react to it. We mix disorder with reality. What was the result? Stress, anxiety, and weariness. Ashtavakra’s advice? Stop being caught.
“Observe the storm without attempting to manage it. Your awareness is not the wind or the lightning. The sky is where the storm appears.”
How to Become a Witness
- 1. Observe Your Reactions When someone irritates you, pause. Observe the surge – the heat, the tension, and the want to strike back. That’s the river. You’re the bank.
- 2. Name It, but Don’t Own It. Say to yourself, “This is anger.” This is terror. “This is desire.” Naming something generates space. Suddenly, you are no longer the emotion.
- 3. Practice Daily Presence. Even five minutes of silent observation—breathing and observing thoughts—fortifies the witness. Life will continue to move quickly, but your inner bank will remain strong.
- 4. Act from awareness. When you reply, do so consciously. Not out of habit, out of terror, or out of connection. You’ll discover that your behaviors are more impactful because they are based on clarity rather than reactivity.
Janaka’s Realization
After days of practicing this approach, Janaka returned to Ashtavakra: “Master, I see the difference now. I can act decisively, love deeply, even feel anger — and yet I am not lost in it. The storm touches me, but I do not drown.”Ashtavakra nodded: “Exactly, Janaka. The witness is not separate from life. Life is still flowing. You are simply awake in it.” That’s a radical shift.It’s not about escaping the river; it’s about realizing you were never swept away. You are always the bank.
Why Does This Change Everything?
When you internalize this, life loses its grip. Stop overthinking. You cease assuming that every message, statement, or circumstance defines you. You start seeing people plainly and without projection. You begin loving completely, without attachment. The witness does not imply passivity. It denotes independence within activities. The world remains unpredictable. People are still untidy. Life still stings. But you are untouchable in the center. It’s similar to discovering the mechanics of a magic trick: the world continues to perform, but you now understand how it works. Nothing can surprise or control you anymore.Modern Reflection Consider your mental state to be similar to social media notifications. The witness detects the ping, but does not check it obsessively. The witness reads the comment but does not engage in comparison or judgment. The witness flicks past the news, feeling sympathetic but not alarmed. This is exactly what Ashtavakra meant: living fully, acting fully, and perceiving without being detected.
The witness represents the ultimate freedom. It is not about ending life, manipulating outcomes, or repressing emotions. It’s about remaining awake in the thick of it all. Love does not have to mean losing yourself. You can labor without being constrained by outcomes. You can feel both joy and grief without mistaking them for who you are. Janaka realized: “Master, the witness is me.” I was never lost. “I was just sleeping.” Ashtavakra responded, “Exactly.” Janaka, wake up fully. See without getting caught. “That is liberation.” And that is the art of living as a witness: seeing, feeling, and doing while being unaffected, present, and free.
